Putin Agrees to Resume Russia-Ukraine-US Peace Talks Next Month

Trump Says End to War Is Closer Than Ever

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to resume three-way peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States. It would be the first such meeting in about nine months after talks were suspended in February.

Putin gave his approval during a meeting with Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, in St. Petersburg on October 21, according to Axios and the Associated Press. He said he would agree “in principle” to restarting the trilateral talks around November 10. Russia had until now rejected any three-way format that included Ukraine. Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, told state broadcaster Rossiya 24 that the meeting could be held in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Witkoff is reported to have presented a new proposal aimed at ending the war during the meeting with Putin. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, also joined by video. The New York Times reported that the US had proposed resuming Russian gas exports via Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also backed the US push to quickly restart negotiations. “The agenda is clear. To end the war, bring peace closer, and make all preparations for a leaders’ summit.”

Trump has recently pressed Ukraine in various ways to reach a settlement with Russia to end the war. At the same time, he has paired that effort with conciliatory steps toward Moscow, including delaying enforcement of the Graham bill, which would impose steep tariffs on countries importing Russian energy. He told reporters on October 21 that “an end to the war in Ukraine is closer than ever.”

Ahead of the talks, Russia released an American who had been captured by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine in April 2022 and held for more than four years.

Lee Sang-eun, Washington correspondent, Korea Economic Daily selee@hankyung.com